Missoula Faces a Week in the Deep Freeze [AUDIO]

A winter weather advisory for blowing snow is in effect for the Missoula area through Tuesday, February 4.

What forecasters are more concerned about are cold temperatures combined with strong, gusty winds. Meteorologist Dave Noble with the National Weather Service office in Missoula said the frigid temperatures will hearken back to the mid 1990's.

"We haven't seen these types of cold temperatures in February since about 1996," Noble said. "It's going to get very cold, we're talking highs in the single digits and lows in the negative single digits and negative teens in the Missoula area."

Noble said the bitterly cold temperatures and strong winds will combine for dangerous outdoor conditions.

"The winds will be continuing today and into Wednesday," Noble said. "By Wednesday afternoon, the winds will primarily be along the canyons, like the Hellgate Canyon and the I-90 corridor. The winds will drive the wind chill factor to minus 20 to minus 30 below zero."

The forecast calls for the deep freeze to continue through the week, but subside by Sunday, with highs back up into the 30's.